Blanton died peacefully in his Galveston vacation home, according to Peter Wareing, Blanton's son-in-law.

Blanton's influence permeated so many aspects of Houston and Texas that friends said his passing marks the end of a generation of the city's great civic leaders.

"He dedicated his time, effort and knowledge to the improvement of the state and Houston, and we're all better for it," said Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston. "Jack provided an example of what it truly means to be a civic leader. He'll be missed dearly."

The Shreveport native grew up in Houston and graduated from Lamar High School. He earned a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1950.

Blanton joined Scurlock Oil Company in Houston that same year, becoming its president in 1958 and then chairman in 1983, after the company was sold to Ashland Oil.

His leadership touched every aspect of the Houston community, as he served on the boards of the Houston Endowment, the Methodist Hospital Healthcare System, the Texas Medical Center and the Houston Zoo, among others. "His leadership style was to be a consensus builder," said Wareing. "He wanted to move the city forward. He wanted to be part of the team." read more